The state government has asked Pawan Kadyan, the Cooch Behar district magistrate, to send a formal request to the Election Commission of India, seeking permission to give compensation to the family of the four youths killed during the central force firing in Sitalkuchi on Saturday.
The DM has also been asked to seek permission to give compensation to the injured.
“As the model code of conduct is in place, the government can’t announce compensation without an approval from the EC. The DM of Cooch Behar will seek permission to give Rs 5 lakh each to the family of the victims and Rs 2 lakh each to the injured,” said a senior government official.
The state government is planning to get a nod from the EC to give compensation to the family members of Ananda Burman, the fifth youth killed in Cooch Behar. The 18-year-old died of a bullet injury during a BJP-Trinamul clash.
Sources in the poll panel said that such permissions are usually granted on humanitarian grounds given that the issue is not used as a poll tool.
“In this case too, the EC would not oppose the state government’s decision to give compensation, but there will be a precondition. It has to be ensured that no political leader will be involved in the process of giving compensation and the issue won’t be used in a political platform ahead of polls,” said a source.
District authorities in Cooch Behar have said that they are yet to decide on when repolling will be held at booth 5/126 in Jorpatki village of Sitalkuchi where the firing took place. “Polling stopped immediately after the violence... The EC ordered repolling, but fresh dates are yet to be announced,” said Kadyan.
After the incident, the CISF had lodged an FIR at Mathabhanga police station. The family members of the bereaved, however, did not file any complaint with the police till late Monday evening.
“The chief minister had said that she would get the incident probed by the CID.... But as the family members haven’t yet formally lodged any complaint, the probe cannot be started,” said a source.
In view of the tense situation at the village, the police intensified mobile patrolling in the village. The central force personnel, however, left the village last night.